The Brooklyn Nets, based out of Brooklyn, New York, are one of the most famous franchises in the NBA. The team, originally known as the New Jersey Nets, first joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1976. The Nets are a relatively young team, having not yet won a title since joining the NBA. However, they have made a name for themselves in the past few years with a young and dynamic roster filled with stars.
History of the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have gone through a series of changes since their formation in 1976. From New Jersey to Brooklyn, the franchise has changed cities, ownership, and coaching staff multiple times.
When the Nets first began to play in 1976, they were based in New Jersey and played at the PNC Arena. They had a long-term affiliation with the New York Knicks, which created a rivalry between the two teams. As the trend of NBA teams moving away from small cities in the late 1990s, the Nets moved from New Jersey to become the Brooklyn Nets in 2012.
The Nets first made the playoffs in 2002 and made a few deep runs over the course of their history before the franchise turned around in 2021 with their revolutionary roster.
The Brooklyn Nets Winning Roster
In 2021, the Brooklyn Nets built perhaps the most exciting lineup in the NBA with the additions of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. The Big Three immediately turned Brooklyn into a force to be reckoned with in the league and put them among the favorites to win the championship.
This trio also made Brooklyn a hot spot for free-agents. DeAndre Jordan, Jared Dudley, Wilson Chandler, Joe Harris and Jeff Green all joined the Brooklyn Nets in the 2021 offseason and added miles of experience and leadership to the locker room.
The Brooklyn Nets Coach
The 2021 Brooklyn Nets have a luxury of three superstars and a veteran core plus a great coach. Steve Nash, the Nets head coach, is known for his basketball IQ and strategy. Nash has been very successful in his coaching job so far and has utilized the roster to its fullest potential.
Nash has done a great job of getting the most out of his talented players. He has been able to bring out their best and meshes with the team’s chemistry. Nash has even made the Brooklyn Nets a defensive powerhouse after finishing the 2021 season with top 5 defensive rating numbers.
Dominant Run of the Brooklyn Nets in 2021
The Brooklyn Nets were the team to beat in 2021. They finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference (48-24) and made it all the way to the NBA Finals.
Their route to the Finals was full of dominant performances and great wins against both conference leaders. The Brooklyn Nets made quick work of their opponents in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets went on a historic run winning 4 out of the 5 games in the series to clinch a spot in the NBA Finals.
The Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Finals
The Nets faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021 NBA Finals, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way. Despite being the underdogs, the Brooklyn Nets put up a tremendous fight against the Lakers and took the series to 6 games.
However, the Brooklyn Nets were unable to beat the Lakers, as the team failed to come back from a 3-1 deficit, and lost the series in 6 games.
Future of the Brooklyn Nets
Despite the loss in the 2021 NBA Finals, the future of the Brooklyn Nets is bright. The trio of Durant, Irving, and Harden, are all returning for at least another season, and the Nets front office has done an excellent job at bringing in quality role players to surround their superstars.
Looking forward, the Brooklyn Nets will be a formidable team in the coming years and could very well end up lifting the trophy sometime soon.
The Brooklyn Nets have established themselves as one of the top teams in the NBA and will likely remain as such for years to come. Their core of stars, supported by Steve Nash’s coaching and a veteran roster, took the team all the way to the NBA Finals in 2021 and will continue to be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the league. With a little bit of luck and hard work, the Brooklyn Nets may very well rise to the top of the NBA.
